XTB3F-1 Guardian

[Wheels up]

Does anyone have a pic of even line drawing of the XTB3F-1 when the Wesitinghouse was operational (or installed)? In particular, I was curious where the intakes for the jet were located and what they looked like, as I gather they gave Grumman trouble. I gather it never flew under composite power but there was a bit of ground time spent...what did it look like?

[Mgawa]

I have only two archive images of this airplane

[Dan K]

Looks like the wing root to me.

http://tanks45.tripod.com/Jets45/Histor ... ardian.htm

[Wheels up]

I was aware of those ducts but have assumed that as this design ran nearly concurrent to the F8F and shared a similar recip engine (R2800), that the wing leading edge intakes were similar function as F8F...oil coolers, induction etc and not for jet intake. They look sooo similar to the F8F.....and I was never able to determine if in the pic you've linked, if the jet was indeed present. See what I mean?

alas....you are likely correct as the ASW versions lack those L/E ducts and we KNOW they didn't have composite power!....

[Dan K]

This from Angelfire:

Two of the prototypes would be "XTB3F-1s" and the third would be an "XTB3F-2". They were to be "mixed-power" aircraft, with a P&W R-2800-6 Double Wasp, providing 2,300 horsepower and fitted in the nose, and a turbojet fitted in the tail and fed by oval intakes in the leading edges of the wings. The turbojet was to be used to provide additional power for takeoffs and combat emergencies.


NOW do you believe me??


http://www.angelfire.com/space/grumman/ ... rdian.html

[Wheels up]

This from Angelfire:.......


NOW do you believe me??

Oh, I'll believe you.....but you don't believe everything you read on the internet do you?

[Dan K]

This from Angelfire:.......


NOW do you believe me??

Oh, I'll believe you.....but you don't believe everything you read on the internet do you?

Not sure I get your point.

[famvburg]

Those LE ducts were indeed the intakes for the jet engine. I have a book somewhere on the Guardian & it shows the ductwork. I can't put my hands on it at the moment, but they're usually on eBay or available from www.squadron.com & other aviation booksellers.

I was aware of those ducts but have assumed that as this design ran nearly concurrent to the F8F and shared a similar recip engine (R2800), that the wing leading edge intakes were similar function as F8F...oil coolers, induction etc and not for jet intake. They look sooo similar to the F8F.....and I was never able to determine if in the pic you've linked, if the jet was indeed present. See what I mean?

alas....you are likely correct as the ASW versions lack those L/E ducts and we KNOW they didn't have composite power!....

[Larry Kraus]

If you're interested in the book,it's available through Ginter Books an Amazon,and I'm sure in other places.I have a copy,but naturally,not with me.

[img][img]http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u303/tkr62/NF20.jpg[/img]

Here's a link to Ginter's page for this book.As I've mentioned before,Steve Ginter has a number of excellent books out.I recently bought his books on the P5M,the F7F and the SB2A.All of these are outstanding.If you click on the "Naval Fighter" button on this link,it will show all titles for Navy aircraft.The "Future Book" button will display a link to his Air Force Legends books.

http://www.ginterbooks.com/NAVAL/NF20.htm

[Mark Nankivil]

Here's a drawing I found while looking for something else in some AAHS Journals I have.

HTH! Mark